The Minnesota Vikings are expected to field their 14th different Week 1 starting guard in the last ten years, naming Blake Brandel as a starter early this offseason in the periodic search for the position—but that move has raised concerns about former starting guard Dalton Risner.
On a May 22 episode of the “Access Vikings” podcast, Star Tribune beat reporter Andrew Krammer discussed the Vikings’ lacklustre interior offensive line, claiming that the choice to lean toward Brandel entering training camp was a financial one.
“The unspoken part is this front office is looking to pinch some pennies, and they’re clearly not spending on the interior [offensive] line,” Krammer said, citing Brandel’s three-year, $9.5 million contract this offseason.
The Vikings were not happy with the prospect of signing Risner three weeks into the 2023 season after allowing him to go without a contract during his visit to training camp. However, their expectations for Ed Ingram and Ezra Cleveland were dashed when Risner was signed and subsequently took over the job from Cleveland, who was sent to the Jacksonville Jaguars at the trade deadline.
Krammer would not rule out the possibility of the Vikings bringing Risner back at some time if Brandel does not take the starting job or if injuries occur.
“The Vikings clearly didn’t love what they had last year even in the guys they were rotating, but what shocks me is that Brandel was one of the guys that was rotating before they signed Risner,” Krammer stated on the May 8 broadcast of the “Access Vikings” radio show. “What has changed?” Clearly, they expect him to make some leap.”
The Vikings chose Blake Brandel over Dalton Risner for one major reason.
Risner is still a free agent and has expressed a desire for a starting guard pay based on his performance. Risner has started 62 games in his career and has a solid pass-blocking rating, ranking 23rd on Pro Football Focus.
While supporters may be disappointed by the lack of investment at guard, Brandel is the guy until he loses his job.
During the first week of organized team activities, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips praised Brandel, stating he had “earned the opportunity” and emphasized his stature and progress.
“I’m very excited about Blake.” Every time I see him, I feel like he’s getting bigger. He’s a large man on the inside, but he’s in excellent form and has always been highly coachable. You talk about technique, fundamentals, footwork, hand placement, all of the things that are necessary for the offensive line, and you know one wrong step for an offensive lineman can be disastrous,” Phillips said at a May 21 news conference, according to the Daily Norseman. “It’s been extremely encouraging thus far to see him move in for that starting slot on the left. I believe it will only develop from there as he gains more experience and reps. He’s been a man who has always delivered for us when he’s been put in a game, at whatever position. We haven’t forgotten that, and we believe he deserves this opportunity.”
Brandel, a 2020 sixth-round pick, replaced Christian Darrisaw for the most of five games in the 2022 season. In his first game, he was pushed into the Vikings’ stunning 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills, as he fended off a feared Bills pass rush led by Von Miller.
Moving Brandel inside is intended to give the Vikings more oomph in the running game, as they struggled in short-yardage situations last year.
As effective a pass-blocker as Risner was, he received the 67th-best run-blocking grade from PFF among qualifying guards in the league, and the Vikings plan to rely more on the running game this season.
NFL Insider Reveals Vikings’ O-Line Plans Ahead of Regime Change
While the Vikings have been without a reliable guard for more than a decade, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah predicted that the new administration would not change that pattern anytime soon when the Vikings hired Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
“I’ve talked to some buddies around the league about this, kind of the proliferation of coaches from the [Mike and Kyle] Shanahan and [Sean] McVay tree, and … when you look at these Super Bowl-winning teams over the past five years, only three of those 25 offensive linemen were home-grown, first-round picks,” Jeremiah told Vikings.com. “You don’t have to have the best offensive line in the league to be successful because [with] all [those] stretch [plays], you’re moving the pocket, there’s the boot stuff off of that, and you’re getting the ball out of your hands quickly.
“You’re not getting yourself in too many unfavourable situations down-and-distance wise because you’re throwing the ball on early downs,” Jeremiah went on. “That whole system that they’re bringing in there – and [the Vikings have] used it somewhat previously, but I think they’ll take it to the next level – it’s not going to be as offensive-line dependent as maybe some other teams.”
The Vikings may have more freedom in shifting the pocket with a more mobile pocket passer in the future, but dominant interior defensive linemen continue to pose a threat to Minnesota.
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